Thursday, April 18, 2013

Sunday Gospel Reflection, April 21, 2013: The Lamb will shepherd them...



So, what, exactly, does a shepherd do?  Well, as the name suggests, a shepherd’s first job is to herd his sheep, to bring them together, to gather them, to unify them into one body, a body of which he is the head.

In this Sunday’s Gospel from John, chapter 10, we are reminded of Jesus’ role as shepherd.  Caring for the sheep that God has given to him, he is united with them – No one can take them out of my hand as he is with the Father – The Father and I are one.  The unity shared by Father and Son is thus shown to be a mutual bond of love and intimacy, which, through death, Jesus extends to include the community of believers, a community that will expand under those who carry Jesus’ message to the Gentiles. 

In our reading from Acts, this becomes clear:  Peter and Barnabas quote Isaiah’s hope that all nations will gather in Jerusalem to hear the word of God.  It is a radical shift:  God’s kingdom is for all.  The reading from Revelation underscores this point:  all nations will find their common source in God.  In his fulfillment of his promise to mankind, we are united by our common ground:  God’s love for us, expressed by the death of his Son, who lays down his life for his sheep:  The Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

So if we are his people, the flock he tends, as Psalm 100 tells us, then what is our role in this relationship of sheep to shepherd?  The psalm offers a few clues.  We are invited to participate in worship through song and service:  Sing joyfully to the Lord…  Serve the Lord with gladness.  If we know that the Lord is God, then we recognize how God is active in our lives, recognize what we need to witness to.  And if we recognize God’s covenant, as expressed through God's kindness and faithfulness, then we can acclaim them, and the more we acclaim them, the more we become more aware of their truth in our lives.  As sheep, then, we are called to give voice to our collective and united identity as God’s children, led by the love that is Jesus the Lamb, the Lamb who is our Shepherd.

This reflection is based on Fr. Pat's Scripture class.
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